Editor's Note: 'Our Colorado' stories help natives and newcomers navigate the challenges related to our rapidly growing state, including real estate and development, homelessness, transportation and more. To comment on this or other 360 stories, email us at OurCO@TheDenverChannel.com. See more 'Our Colorado' stories here.

DENVER -- It's the day before Rockies baseball returns to Denver. But even on a quiet day at Coors Field, the Ballpark neighborhood is bustling with construction. New businesses are moving into old, historic buildings.

"There are some wonderful buildings here that really are closer to the city, between LoDo and RiNo, so there's a lot of focus I think between the restaurant and bar and brewing community on these buildings," says Cherry Cricket owner Lee Driscoll.

Since the construction of Coors Field two decades ago, the Ballpark and LoDo area of Denver has experienced exponential growth, development, and revitalization as more and more people have moved to live, work, and play in the area.

In a recent spread, The Denver Post, explores the dramatic changes, evolution, and future of the neighborhood amidst growing housing demands, new commercial trends, and the impact of local leadership on the development of Ballpark and Lodo moving forward.

This summer, one block of 21st street will be converted into a temporary park. Dubbed "The Square on 21st," the block of 21st Street between Larimer and Lawrence will be converted into a gathering space, dog park, and food stop for two months starting in mid June and will feature food trucks, a stage, trees, seating, lawn games, dog park, bike trail, and street art to activate the drab urban setting along the street.

In its first year, the RiNo Business Improvement District funded several projects for the once blighted area. This special taxing district for commercial properties funded many artistic projects as well as community building efforts including the area's annual street art event, The Crush, which brought over 80 artists from around the world to paint over 100 new murals throughout the district.

To further the mission of the event, last month, the RiNo Art District partnered with Blue Moon to fund a community mural at the 38th Street underpass. Denver artist, Pat Milbery, led a team of volunteers from the community to paint a massive, geometric mural on the previously dangerous and unsightly underpass that so many use to enter into the neighborhood.

The RiNo BID put forward $20,000 toward the mural in order to bring unity and character to an area of the neighborhood so long neglected.

Another developing neighborhood of Denver is exploring the potential of special taxing districts as a means to steer the conversation of progress in the area. Five Points is following the success of other neighborhoods such as RiNo, Colfax, Downtown Denver, and Cherry Creek North which each have implemented Business Improvement Districts to raise funds for infrastructure improvements, placemaking, special events, and policy making.

Such a district could bring in over $150,000 annually to the area which is seeking to redefine itself and drive positive growth and development as Denver continues evolving as a city. These funds could also be used to promote the area, attracting new businesses and residents to boost the local economy.

Denver's Community Planning and Development department has developed an exciting new vision for two vital streets in the up and coming Ballpark neighborhood. Wynkoop Street and 21st Street were examined earlier this year as an investigation into transforming the area into "urban trails." Such trails put an emphasis on pedestrian and bike access and traffic while developing a sense of place.

Residents and local business and property owners met with the planning team earlier this year to discuss their ideas and priorities for the redevelopment exploration. It remains to be seen how the project will be funded, however, planners recognize that such an intensive redevelopment would require an ample budget to be executed correctly.